on a rainy day...

It had started to drizzle when I thought of surprising you by coming over to your office to pick you. I walked out of my office, went across the road to pickup your favorite flower – just one stick. Back in our car, fished out a CD and pushed the fwd button to start the 5th track – and to listen to our favorite track from Cascades - ‘Rhythm of the falling rain…’

In 15 minutes I was nearing your office and the drizzle changed to a light downpour. It was an awesome weather: rain, little fog, less traffic, you in my thoughts, and of course the lovely number at that point - John Denver’s ‘you fill up my senses…’

As I approached your office, I spotted you standing at the entrance, in that lovely blue bandini suit - waiting for your transport - chit-chatting with your colleagues. You weren’t smiling, but Jim Reeves singing Mona Lisa seemed right for the moment!

I honked to grab your attention, and in that process got few annoying looks from your colleagues who had no idea who was the honk targeted at! The third honk brought success. And as you opened the rear door, and neatly placed your stuff at the back seat, Mona Lisa died replacing ‘can't help falling in love…’ Thanks Elvis for singing that!

I noticed you weren’t surprised when I took a U turn instead of driving straight. Perhaps you already know in these so many years what craziness can come over me at times. And rains make me like ‘everything’ on planet earth I guessJ.

Traffic was annoying, but a couple of numbers by Cliff Richard made it tolerableJ.

Let me confess, I was not listening to you at all - all that small-little-sweet animated things you were telling me. It’s only when you switched on FM1 with ‘Yaadein…’ on air that the reverie broke!

Finding a parking slot in CP wasn’t difficult at all.

Inside Bercose, the food, the music, the ambience, and our discussions were engrossing. Even the impending issue of changing to a new rented accommodation did not spoil the spellJ. And while we were out taking a post-early-dinner round of the inner circle, we talked about the past and the present. And then suddenly you thrilled me by starting to hum our favorite, ‘jaltay hai jiskay liyay…’ At that moment, I wanted to tell you how much I have loved you. Of how much I love you. But I didn’t want to distract you from your humming!

On our way back, after we had covered almost half the distance, mostly in silence, listening to the sound of the downpour, I switched on the CD player, heard a few numbers associated with which are few significant moments that we have shared. I don’t know if you think of those moments when you listen to those tracks, but I certainly do. They bring smile and cheer in life!

I thought the moment to be apt for holding your hand, and saying thanks for being there. And as I held your hand and looked at you, with a smile on your face, it appeared as if you acknowledged my unspoken thoughts. I don’t remember what song played in the background. I was focused on you.

We reached home; I picked up the stuff from the seat. I picked up the yellow chrysanthemum too, and called you, but as always, you were already gone.

Imaginations - It’s rare for them to be true! But still, as my friend PK says, Life is beautiful!